[enviro-vlc] Cutting air pollution in cities may raise global temps, says scientist

[Vern Weitzel]

http://www.enn.com/lifestyle/article/38388

From: canada.com
Published October 10, 2008 11:39 AM

Cutting air pollution in cities may raise global temps, says scientist


POTSDAM, Germany-- Cleaning air in Beijing and in other large cities suffering 
from pollution problems by limiting car and power-plant emissions may raise 
global temperatures instead of lowering them, a German scientist warns.
Aerosols, or particles suspended in air, have a cooling effect on the Earth, 
countering global warming linked to carbon dioxide, said Hans-Joachim 
Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research.
A drop in aerosols in the atmosphere could cause a "rapid" rise in temperatures, 
he said.
Airborne pollutants act as an umbrella worldwide while CO2 provides insulation, 
trapping heat attempting to escape into the atmosphere. A rise in temperature 
because of declines in aerosols in the atmosphere can be offset by slashing CO2 
emissions, he said. By not reducing carbon output, humanity "is closing the last 
door we have through which we can possibly influence the global climate," 
Schellnhuber said.